Mixed Response

As the title of this blog says yesterdays result was a mixed one.


Whilst it was good news that no NEW cancer had grown and most of the cancer tumours stayed the same size, some of them had grown. Particularly 2 on Steve’s lymph nodes. Tom went on to explain that the lymph nodes are not high on his priorities of concern, if it had been on the lung tumours this would have been more of a concern.

This result does mean that Steve will stay on Sutent and will continue on it, in the same pattern 4 weeks on and 2 weeks off, for another 2 cycles.

Which means in about 11 weeks he will be scanned again?

Tom on the whole was pleased with the result but I couldn’t help feeling somewhat down. I don’t really know what I was expecting but I suppose going back up to the hospital and waiting for the appointment brought it all back to reality. Steve was okay but like me was somewhat mixed with his feelings.

We couldn’t be happy because Steve still has cancer and some of it has grown, however on the other hand we couldn’t be sad as no new cancer had grown. I just suppose this whole journey is going to be like this.

Whilst on Sutent Steve suffers terribly with his feet and towards the end of his last course, was finding it very difficult to walk but within 48 hours of stopping his feet got better but within the same time frame his cancer pain and the inability to sleep at night has returned. How cruel is this all. Whilst not on treatment he is in pain with the cancer and whilst on treatment he has pain from the side effects.

Tom did briefly discuss the possibilities of radiation in the area where Steve feels the pain from the cancer and asked us to monitor the pain once he goes back onto Sutent, which will be next Friday.

We dont really know what radiation will entail but do know he can’t be on Sutent when he has it done and it will involve many trips up to the hospital.

Today Jane our local Macmillan nurse is coming round to help Steve with the pain and hopefully this will mean the pain will reduce at night. She is a great person and is so helpful with advice on pain medication and is determined to help Steve manage his pain, so he can play golf and cricket! :-)

I will try and be better at updating the blog but at the same time, we are trying to enjoy the weather and move our garden project along, so that we can sit on our new patio before the sun stops shinning, which could be at any time!!! So if the weather takes a turn for the worse, then you will know that our garden project has finished!!